Witness saw attack on man in police cell
2012-04-25 11:00
Cape Town - A witness has told how he heard a man calling for help shortly before he died following an assault in the Durbanville police cells.
Eben Meyer, 47, apparently pulled on the cell bars in an attempt to get the attention of police officers on duty, Die Burger reported.
His blood-covered body was found in the early hours of Saturday morning in the cell that he was sharing with eight other men.
Meyer had been arrested at about 01:00 for public drunkenness. He had apparently gone drinking after a fight with his fiancée.
Another man from Durbanville, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had also been locked up in the police cells on Saturday evening.
He was put in a cell next to Meyer’s. He said the men were already assaulting Meyer when he arrived.
He saw them kicking and hitting Meyer.
Aggressive
The witness said, however, that Meyer had been aggressive following his arrival, swearing and demanding cigarettes, and hitting two other men. He said Meyer had been looking for trouble.
“It’s sad that he died, but he needed a hiding.”
He said it felt like the assault on Meyer had taken several hours and that he was surprised that the police officials in the charge office nearby did not come to Meyer’s aid.
The two accused, Daniel Dyosi, 40, and Sipho Mhlanga, 29, were charged with Meyer’s murder. They appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday, where their case was postponed to May 10 for a formal bail application.
